GB1577953A

GB1577953A - Open-end spinningmachines

Info

Publication number: GB1577953A
Application number: GB20372/76A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Platt Saco Lowell Ltd
Current assignee: Platt Saco Lowell Ltd
Priority date: 1976-05-18
Filing date: 1976-05-18
Publication date: 1980-10-29
Also published as: IT1074522B; US4122655A; FR2352082A1; JPS5936682B2; FR2352082B1; CH617969A5; JPS52140641A; CA1050365A; DE2721000A1; ES458861A1; DE2721000C2

Description

( 11)

( 21) Application No 20372/76 ( 22) Filed 18 May 1976 ( 23) Complete Specification Filed 16 May 1977 ( 44) ( 51) ( 52)

Complete Specification Published 29 Oct 1980

INT CL 3 D 01 H 1/12 Index at Acceptance DID 101 AX DIN 1 B 1 l 1 B 2 1 B 5 1 B 9 ( 72) Inventors: GORDON CAMPBELL ANDERSON JAMES WILLIAM BARNES CLAYTON ( 54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO OPEN-END SPINNING MACHINES ( 71) We, PLATT SACO LOWELL LIMITED, a British company of Holcombe Road, Helmshore, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB 4 4 NG, do hereby declare this invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:-

This invention relates to apparatus for open-end spinning textile yarns.

In known apparatus for open-end spinning textile yarns, a sliver is fed to a rotating opening roller which opens and combs the fibres in the sliver and transfers them to the entrance of a fibre feed duct The fibres are conveyed in discrete form through the feed duct to a rotating spinning rotor where they accumulate on the internal fibre collecting surface thereof The fibres are withdrawn from the fibre collecting 'surface by continuously twisting them into a tail end of yarn which is then conveyed to a winding device to form a package.

It is often necessary to gain access to the spinning rotor in order to perform a servicing procedure, such as, for example, cleaning the inside of the spinning rotor The open top of the spinning rotor is normally closed by a cover member which, in the interests of safety, should not be removed whilst the rotor shaft is drivingly engaged by its driving means.

Several proposals have heretofore been made in order that access to the rotor can be gained but these have possessed some disadvantage which renders the arrangement unsatisfactory.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for open-end spinning yarns, comprising a plurality of spinning stations, each station comprising a housing, a spinning rotor arranged for rotation in said housing about a first axis and an opening roller arranged for rotation in said housing about a second axis, the stations being arranged such that the first axes of the stations lie in a first plane, and the second axes of the stations' lie in a second plane spaced at the housing from said first plane, driving means for causing rotation of the spinning rotor, a machine frame and means mounting each housing on the machine frame, for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis between an operative position in which the driving means is in driving connection with the respective spinning rotor and an inoperative position in which the driving means is disconnected from driving connection with the spinning rotor, wherein the mounting means are arranged such that the pivotal axis of each housing extends transversely to the respective first axis and at a position intermediate said first and second planes.

Embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is a front elevation of an openend spinning unit according to the invention with a portion of the cover 45 cut-away in order to show more clearly the spinning unit supporting bracket 43; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation on the line II II of the spinning unit shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation on the line III-III of the spinning unit of Figure 1 showing in detail the catch assembly 51; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of a spinning unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a perspective part front elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 with the spinning units removed: and Figure 6 is a front elevation of the spinning units of either Figure 1 or Figure 4 with the covers 45 and 28 modified.

A machine frame l extends longitudinally PATENT SPECIFICATION

1 577 953 ( 19) 1 577 953 along the machine and comprises a plate which has at spaced intervals therealong apertures 2 each of which receives a spinning unit housing 3, which is substantially coextensive with the aperture and which extends forwardly and rearwardly of the plate 1.

Referring to Figure 2 the housing 3 has a lower portion 4 protruding forwardly of the aperture 2 which serves to support a feed plate 5 resiliently biassed towards a rotatable sliver feed roller 6 to form therewith a sliver forwarding nip The feed roller 6 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 7 extending towards the rear of the housing and is supported in bearings (not shown) located in the housing On the rear end of the shaft 7 is a gear wheel 8 having helical gear teeth around the periphery thereof arranged to be in mesh with a worm gear 9 machined in a counter shaft 10 the axis of which extends transversely with respect to the rotational axis of the shaft 7 An electromagnetic clutch (not shown) is mounted on the shaft 10 which can be actuated to start and stop rotation of the feed roller 6 Also mounted on the shaft 10 is a driven gear wheel 11 meshing with a driving gear wheel 12 fixedly mounted on a feed roller driving shaft 13.

The shaft 13 extends along the machine and supports at spaced intervals therealong similar gear wheels 12 for effecting a drive to feed rollers at the remaining spinning units.

As best seen in Figure 1 the feed plate 5 has a curved fibre retaining surface 14 adjacent to the peripheral surface of an opening roller 15 which is housed for rotation in the lower portion 4 of the housing 3.

The peripheral surface of the opening roller is provided with needles or saw-tooth type wire for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The opening roller 15 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 16 rotatably supported in bearings (not shown), which are located in a boss portion 17, for rotation about an axis parallel with the rotational axis of the feed roller supporting shaft.

The shaft 16 extends rearwardlv out of the housing 3 and supports thereat a pulley 18 in driving engagement with a drive belt 19 which extends along the machine and serves to impart drive to similar opening rollers at the remaining spinning stations The axes of rotation of the opening rollers lie in a common horizontal plane passing through the lower portion of the housing 3.

Also provided in the lower housing portion 4 is a trash collection chamber 20 which communicates with the peripheral surface of the opening roller 15 by an aperture 21 At the bottom of the chamber 20 is an outlet 22 from which extends an outlet duct 23 formed in the housing 3 and movable therewith The outlet duct 23 is arranged.

with the housing in the position shown in Figure 2, in alignment with the bore of a suction pipe 24 held in a bracket 25 fixed to the machine frame 1 In operation the suction pipe 24 is connected to a source of suction for a purpose hereinafter described.

In the upper surface of the bracket 25 is an annular groove 26 which forms a seating for a rubber sealing ring 27.

A cover plate 28 is fixed by screws 29 to the front face of the lower housing portion 4 in order to cover the feed plate 5, feed roller 6, opening roller 15 and trash collection chamber 20.

In the upper portion of the housing 3 a cavity 30 is formed to provide a chamber for a spinning rotor 31 The spinning rotor is fixedly mounted on a shaft 32 rotatably mounted in bearings (not shown) which are located in a boss portion 33 The shaft 32 extends rearwardly of the boss portion 33 and is drivingly engaged by a driving belt 34 extending along the machine and serving to drive the rotor shafts at the remaining spinning stations The stations are arranged such that the axes of rotation of the rotors lie in a common horizontal plane passing through the upper portion of the housing 3.

A brake pad 35 is positioned adjacent the shaft 32 so as to apply a braking effect on the shaft 32 when in operative communication.

Communicating with the cavity 30 is a suction duct 36 which is connected to a source of suction by a flexible suction pipe 37 The suction pipe 37 is secured on a pipe connector 38 held in position by an adaptor 39 screwed on the housing 3 Encircling the pipe 37 is a locating ring 40 fixed to the machine frame 1.

The cavity 30 is closed by a closure member 44 attached to a cover 45 by three screws 65 The closure member 44 supports a yarn doffing tube 46 provided with a duct co-axial with the rotary axis of the spinning rotor 31 The doffing tube 46 extends through and protrudes from the front surface of the cover 45 in which it is secured by a screw 66 A fibre feed duct 49 is formed in the closure member 44 and provides a passage between a duct 50 in the lower portion 4 of the housing 3 and the interior of the spinning rotor 31.

The cover 45 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on pivot pins 47 which pass through bores formed in lugs 48 and into corresponding bores provided in the lower portion 4 of the housing 3.

Thus the cover 45 in its covering or closed position covers the rotor 31 and the chamber 30 and overlies parallelly the separate cover 28 The pivot pins 47 enable the cover to be pivoted through approximately 90 ( to expose the parts previously covered and to enable, if required removal of the separate 1 577 953 cover 28.

Protruding from each side of the housing 3 is a trunnion 41 resting in a plastics journal bearing 42 which only partly surrounds the trunnion 41, of a support bracket 43 secured to the machine frame 1 As seen in Figure 1, the support bracket 43 is positioned between the housing 3 of adjacent spinning units and has two bearings 42; one of which supports the right hand side trunnion 41 of housing 3 and the other of which supports the left hand side trunnion 41 of the adjacent housing 3.

The trunnions 41 are free to rotate within the bearings 42 whereby the housing 3 can be pivoted about a horizontal pivotal axis passing through the trunnions 41 and lying transversely to the rotational axes of the opening roller and rotor intermediate the aforementioned planes containing these axes Although the pivotal axis is closer to the plane of the opening rollers, the distance between the pivotal axis and the two planes is of the same order of magnitude.

The spinning unit assembly is retained in the operating position shown in Figure 2 and the cover 45 is retained in the closed position by a catch assembly 51 as illustrated particularly in Figure 3 A retaining member 52 is pivotally mounted on a pin 53 carried by the cover 45 and has a hand operable portion 54 protruding through an aperture in the cover 45 A hook 56 on the retaining member 52 engages a head 57 of a catch 58 screwed into the machine frame I and located therein by a nut 59 The hook 56 is biassed into engagement with the head 57 by means of a spring 60 fixed to the underside of the retaining member 52 and so formed as to engage the inside surface of the cover 45 thus tending to rotate the retaining member 52 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 3.

At the bottom of the housing 3 is a blind hole 61 provided to receive a helical spring 62 and a piston 63 The spring 62 acts to force the piston 63 against the machine frame I thus tending to move the housing 3 in a clockwise direction about the trunnions 41 towards the inoperative position (not shown) This movement of the housing is prevented by engagement of the hook 56 with the head 57 of the catch 58 Thus positive retention of the housing 3 in the operative position shown in Figure 2 is attained Extending from the bottom of the housing is a lip 64 which engages the internal surface of the plate I behind the bottom surface of the aperture 2 to limit the extent of pivotal movement in an anticlockwise direction as shown in Figure 2.

In operation with the housing in the operative position as shown in Figure 2 a sliver S is forwarded between a nip formed between the sliver feed plate 5 and the rotating feed roller 6 to the opening action effected by the needles or teeth provided on the peripheral surface of the opening roller During the opening action the fibres are constrained by the curved retaining surface 14 At the termination of the retaining surface 14 considered in the direction of rotation as indicated by the arrow, the heavier impurities are ejected from the opening roller 15 through the aperture 21 to accumulate in the trash collection chamber 20.

Periodically the chamber 20 is purged of impurities by applying suction to the pipe 24 so that the impurities are removed through the outlet 22 outlet duct 23 and the pipe 24 to be collected at a suitable location.

The fibres are conveyed by the opening roller 15 to the entrance of the duct 50 at which point they are removed from the roller 15 and are conveyed to the spinning rotor 31 down the duct 50 and the fibre feed duct 49.

The fibres are conveyed along these ducts in an airstream derived from a suction source connected to the suction pipe 37 and accumulate on a fibre collecting surface formed at the maximum internal diameter of the spinning rotor The fibres are removed from the spinning roller 31 by twisting them into a tail end of spun yarn Y which is withdrawn through the doffing tube 46 by a pair of delivery rollers (not shown) and then formed into a package in the usual manner.

When it is required to gain access to the spinning rotor 31 for example following a yarn breakage, the hand operable portion 54 of the retaining member 52 is depressed.

This causes movement of the retaining member 52 about the pin 53 so as to disengage the hook 56 from the head 57 of the catch 58 The pressure of the spring 62 reacts against the machine frame 1 through the piston 63 to pivot the housing 3 and the trunnions 41 in the bearings 42 in a clockwise direction about the pivotal axis from the operative position as seen in Figure 2 to an inoperative position.

As the housing 3 pivots the pulley 18 is disengaged from the driving belt 19 thereby disconnecting the drive to the opening roller Simultaneously the drive to the spinning rotor 13 is disconnected by disengagement of shaft 32 from the driving belt 34 The shaft 32 is braked as it comes into engagement with the brake shoe 35.

The positions of the rotor shaft 32 and the opening roller pulley 18 when in the inoperative position of the housing 3 are indicated in broken line for convenience in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 It will be seen that the amount of linear movement indicated by the angle 'A' of the rotational axes of the opening roller and spinning rotor 1 577 953 relative to their respective driving means before the motion is arrested by engagement of the shaft 32 with the brake shoe 35 is the same, or substantially the same The practice, angle 'A' is in the region of 50 It will further be appreciated that this arrangement provides a movement of the rotational axes of the spinning rotor and opening roller which is substantially transverse to the respective driving belts thus providing a positive, immediate and simultaneous disconnection of the driving effect.

The feed roller 6 is stopped by actuation of the electromagnetic clutch on countershaft 10, but the slight pivotal movement of the housing 3 is insufficient to cause complete disengagement of the driven gear wheel 11 from the driving gear wheel 12.

In the inoperative position the cover 45, although maintained in the covering position by friction in the pivot pin 47, together with the closure member 44 can be pivoted about the pivot pins 47 so that the inside of the spinning rotor 31 and the cavity 30 are exposed for maintenance or for such other purpose If it is further required to gain access to the opening roller 15 feed roller 6, feed plate 5 or trash collection chamber 20 the cover plate 28 can be removed after withdrawal of screws 29.

If it is desired to remove the complete spinning unit from the machine it is possible in the inoperative position to unscrew the adaptor 39 thereby disconnecting the pipe 37 and the pipe connector 38 from the housing 3 The unit can then be lifted until the trunnions 41 are above the bearings 42 of the support bracket 43 whereupon the unit can be removed forwardly from the machine.

By positioning the pivotal axis of the housing intermediate the rotational axes of the spinning rotor and the opening roller the degree of movement required by the housing to disconnect the drives to the opening roller and spinning rotor is quite small This is because the amount of movement of the opening roller pulley and spinning rotor shaft from the operative position to the inoperative position is the same or substantially the same, in both cases.

Furthermore, the arrangement permits ready and safe access to the spinning rotor and the removal of a spinning unit from the machine is readlv achieved.

Turning to the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 the apparatus shown in substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 2 and 3 and only the differences will be described in detail Specifically a flange 70 is provided at each side of each aperture 2 and extends rearwardly from the machine frame plate 1 Each flange 70 fixedly supports a fulcrum pin 67 on which is rotatably mounted a plastics bearing bush 68 In each housing a supporting collar 69 is integrally formed at a side portion for receiving the bush 68 The collar 69 is open at the bottom and rear to readily receive the bush 68 and provides a support portion 70 partly surrounding the bush 68 of the same diameter.

The spinning unit housing 3 is mounted on the machine frame 1 by insertion of the rear portion through the aperture 2 and 75 guiding the bush so as to pass through the opening of the collar 69 The housing 3 is then pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4 to the operating position in which it is retained against the 80 reaction of the spring 62 by the engagement of the hook 56 with the head 57 of the catch 58.

Turning now to Figure 6, the spinning units shown are substantially the same as 85 that shown in Figures 1, 2 or 3 or as modified as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Specifically this embodiment differs in that the cover 28 is formed of a transparent material and an aperture 145 is provided in 90 the cover 45 which overlies the majority of the cover 28 so as to expose to view the feed roller 6 the feed plate 5, the trash collection chamber 20 and the opening roller 15.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 95

1 Apparatus for open-end spinning yarns, comprising a plurality of spinning stations, each station comprising a housing, a spinning rotor arranged for rotation in said housing about a first axis and an opening 100 roller arranged for rotation in said housing about a second axis, the stations being arranged such that the first axes of the stations lie in a first plane, and the second axes of the stations lie in a second plane 105 spaced at the housing from said first plane, driving means for causing rotation of the spinning rotor, a machine frame and means mounting each housing on the machine frame for pivotal movement about a pivotal 110 axis between an operative position in which the driving means is in driving connection with the respective spinning rotor, and an inoperative position, in which the driving means is disconnected from driving connec 115 tion with the spinning rotor, wherein the mounting means are arranged such that the pivotal axis of each housing extends transversely to the respective first axis and at a position intermediate said first and second 120 plane.

2 Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first plane is parallel to the second plane.

3 Apparatus according to claim 2, 125 wherein the first and second planes are horizontal in the operative position.

4 Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3 including driving means for causing rotation of the opening rollers wherein the 130 1 577 953 pivotal axis of each housing is so positioned between the planes that the amount of movement of the first axis with respect to the associated driving means is the same or substantially the same, as the amount of movement of the second axis with respect to the associated driving means.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the mounting means comprises a pair of trunnions one on each side of the housing, and a pair of support members one on each side of the housing for receiving a respective one of the trunnions whereby to pivotally support the housing about the pivotal axis.

6 Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support members only partly surround the trunnions, whereby the housing can be readily removed from the machine frame.

7 Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the trunnions are provided on the housings, and wherein a plurality of brackets are provided each carrying a pair of support members and each mounted on the machine frame between two housings whereby each of the support members co-operate with a respective one of the two adjacent housings.

8 Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the machine frame comprises a plate having a plurality of apertures formed therein, each housing being arranged within a respective one of the apertures so as to project forwardly and rearwardly of the plate.

9 Apparatus according to claim 5 and 8, wherein a flange is provided at each side of each aperture perpendicular to the machine frame plate, wherein each trunnion is fixedly supported by a respective one of the flanges, and the support members are provided on the housings.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including a feed roller mounted for rotation in said housing about an axis parallel to the second axis, and driving means for imparting a drive to said feed roller, wherein movement of the housing to the inoperative position is insufficient to cause disengagement of the feed roller drive.

11 Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each housing includes a cover which extends over the housing and means mounting the cover such that it can be moved from a covering position to an open position to expose the parts within the housing.

12 Apparatus according to claim 11.

wherein each housing includes catch means which hold the housing in the operative position and hold the cover in the covering position, and which can be operated to simultaneously release the housing for movement to the inoperative position and the cover for movement to the open position.

13 Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein each housing includes a second separate cover beneath the first cover and covering the opening roller.

14 Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the second cover is transparent and the first cover includes an aperture lying at least partly over the second cover whereby to expose to view the parts covered by the second cover.

Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each housing includes a trash collection chamber and a duct connected thereto and rigidly carried by the housing for pivotal movement therewith, and wherein the machine frame includes for each housing, a respective one of a plurality of suction tube members for connection to a source of suction rigidly attached thereto, the duct and suction tube member being arranged such that when the housing is in the operative position they have respective ends in communication and such that when each housing is in the inoperative position the end of the respective suction tube members is spaced from the end of the respective duct.

16 Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the drive means for imparting the drive to the feed roller comprises a countershaft in driving connection with the feed roller and having an axis extending transversely with respect to the axis of rotation of the feed roller, and a drive shaft extending along the machine and supporting driving gear wheels at spaced intervals therealong so as to mesh with a driven gear wheel supported on the countershaft at each spinning station, and wherein movement of the housing to the inoperative position is insufficient to cause disengagement of the driving gear wheel from the driven gear wheel.

17 Apparatus for open-end spinning of yarns substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3; Figures 4 and 5; Figures 1 2, 3 and 6; or Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

A.D BATTISON.

For the Applicants.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Croydon Printing Company Limited, Croydon, Surrey, 1980.

Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC 2 A IAY, from which copies may be obtained.